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Mayor endorses Gentle for county commissioner
To the editor, As the Mayor of Newport and as a business owner, I have had the privilege of working with the Commissioners of Pend Oreille County on many occasions. I have found John Gentle always to be knowledgeable and have the best interests of the citizens of Pend Oreille County at heart. John works with integrity and fervor to help the county move forward in these complicated and challenging times. Pend Oreille County needs the type of leadership and experience that John provides. I feel that John Gentle is the right man at the right time for Pend Oreille County Commissioner and that is why he gets my endorsement.
-Keith Campbell Newport
Former president lying about hurricane response
To the editor, The question posed by The Miner in last week’s Reader’s Poll does not deserve a response.
The disinformation spread by the former president and his followers is not only untrue, it is categorically and deliberately false, as well as dangerous.
Each and every one of his lies regarding this issue have been proven to be false.
-Gail Cory-Betz Newport
Sports help students continue education
To the editor, Priest River Lamanna High School class of 2024 had 42 students walk the stage to receive their diplomas. Out of those 42 students five of them received athletic scholarships to further their education at college. What an amazing accomplishment for these kids. Each one of these students have played sports the entirety of their years enrolled in WBCSD. Without having the opportunity to participate in athletics while in school these kids would have not had the opportunity to receive those scholarships.
It makes me sad to think the future graduates of WBCSD may not have this opportunity in the years to come.
Because the last two levies failed, WBCSD did not have the funds to offer athletics for the students this year. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, community members and businesses teamed up and worked hard to raise the money so our kids were able to continue to play sports. I am proud of every single person that helped make sports happen this year. But this is not something that we can do every year.
We need to vote YES for our schools, YES for our students, YES for athletics.
Please vote YES for Levy on Nov. 5th.
-Trinity Duquette Priest River
Broadband collaboration a big milestone
To the editor, On October 1, the Port of Pend Oreille (PORT) and the Pend Oreille PUD (PUD) announced a collaboration to improve broadband access to the underserved and unserved within the county. This is a big milestone for broadband in the county. I am confident that this partnership will pay dividends to the residents for decades to come. Did you know that the efforts to bring this about started in the spring of 2023 and involved multiple agencies cooperating for the good of the county?
Key to the success of the broadband collaboration were the agencies involved, including the Economic Recovery Corp., the PORT, the grant subcommittee of the EDAC (formerly the CEC of the EDC), Tri-County Economic Development District (TEDD), and the PUD. Their collaborative efforts, commitment, and the involvement of many individuals, including Kelly Driver, John Janney, Jim Couples, Frank Metlow, Jeff Koffel and the grant subcommittee members (formerly the CEC), were instrumental in this endeavor.
Looking ahead, I am eager to see the PUD continue the good work of this project, utilize the Economic Recovery Corp’s funding of Jim Couples, and explore additional funding opportunities. This anticipation reflects my confidence in the project’s potential and the leadership and cooperation demonstrated since the spring of 2023.
-Kim Gentle Port of Pend Oreille Commissioner, District 1
In response to commissioner Brian Smiley’s letter
To the editor, You, Kevin, and I are brothers in Christ. I’ve given Gideon Missionary reports at Selkirk Baptist Church where you Pastor.
Why would you charge Kevin Young and me with “false accusations and ineptitude.” You said, “Fools combine hatred with lies and slander.” Candidly, this was hurtful and inappropriate.
Okay then, let’s quietly review the facts together… How curious you said, “To know that your particular strengths and abilities meet the needs of those that you serve is one of life’s greatest joys…” You install hardwood floors.
Your opponent, Kevin Young, has spent a lifetime building roads. He retired as the Newport WA DOT shop foreman. Ten million is spent on roads in POC.
Who do the voters want using their “particular strengths and abilities”? Maybe voters want our roads paved with hardwood?
Furthermore, the POC Governance Coordination Manual Resolution No. 2009-33 Adopted and approved on March 23, 2009, clearly states in Exhibit 4 SECTION 3 APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST: “Any Board member having a conflict of interest or possible appearance thereof, whether by business association or personal, shall make disclosure at the appropriate time to the County Prosecuting Attorney for advice on recusal when an issue may hold the potential of a conflict of interest claim.”
John Gentle’s wife, Kim, was on POVA RR Port Authority board when John voted to give POVA governance over our economic development. A few months later, Kelly Driver, manager of POVA RR, asked for $200k instead of the agreed and contracted $105k. John received a campaign contribution from Kelly while the contract was being re-negotiated.
“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise.” Proverbs 17:28 “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain Voters will decide who is acting the fool… -Steve Haroldson Minnich Newport
Project 2025 is dangers and real
To the editor, What is Project 2025? It is the blueprint designed to guide Donald Trump if he wins the presidential election. The official title is “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise” and it was written by The Heritage Foundation. Mr.
Trump has suggested that he knows nothing about Project 2025 but several of his close advisors are its principal authors. So, what does it say?
As a 900+ page document it is impossible to summarize it in a Letter to the Editor. I can only offer you the highlights that stood out to me. Project 2025 would… Eliminate the Department of Education and the Federal funding that goes with it. Defund the National Weather Service so it can’t “promote” climate change rhetoric nor predict hurricanes. Raise the retirement age to 69 thus reducing the amount seniors receive. Move the tax burden to the middle class by cutting taxes on the wealthy. Block the government from negotiating lower drug prices. Criminalize mailing abortion medications which would result in a de-facto nationwide abortion ban. Eliminate Head Start. Fire several thousand Federal employees who swear allegiance to our constitution rather than Mr. Trump. Reduce FEMA’s ability to help disaster victims. Initiate the process of privatizing Medicare. And the list goes on aiming to put the ultimate and final authority for any Federal decision in the hands of the president.
Please take this seriously, do your own research and decide if this is the country you want to live in. If it isn’t, vote for Harris.
-Martha Nichols Newport
Support for Joe Onley for PUD commissioner
To the editor, Janus is the Roman god of beginnings and endings.
This god is pictured with a head and two faces, one facing toward the past and one toward the future.
The name of the month of January comes from the word Janus. January is a time when we reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
Make no mistake, Joe Onley is no god, but he is the type of person that we want to keep as our PUD commissioner. His history of working as an engineer and manager for the PUD for the past 30 years and serving as our PUD commissioner for the past six years gives him the perspective reflecting on the past and using those learnings for decision making. The vision he demonstrated by getting the $27 million federal grant and supervision of the fiber optic implementation in our county shows how he looks forward with vision to our future. Every time I use my highspeed internet, I have Joe Onley to thank, and so should you. As I said, Joe Onley is no god, but he has been a darn good PUD commissioner. I encourage you to give him your vote.
-Perry Pearman Sacheen Lake
Current political thinking is dark, selfish
To the editor, I long for politics from the old days. The parties offered a contrast between governing styles along with economic and foreign policy administration.
Today, the Republican Party has turned into MAGA misinformation and blatant lies behind Trump who practices the Steve Bannon style of throwing made-up disinformation against a wall and seeing what sticks. Trump may lie his way back into the Oval Office because American voters want to believe the worst about fellow citizens, the government, and the state of our country.
Saying everything is destroyed and a disgrace sticks with negative thinking voters. Fear, anger, and hate are political tools of choice. One idea is that undeserving people are taking what is rightfully yours, which creates jealousy, envy and votes for candidates who take advantage of our worst human nature.
You can experiment this Halloween by telling some of the kids at your door that immigrant kids took all the candy, and none is left for them. You would be teaching them the MAGA doctrine that we only have takers and losers.
Too much current political thinking is that anyone who cares about anything other than themselves is a sucker. The only thing controlling our lives is us.
We either sink in political despair or rise with the opportunity around us.
Otherwise, all we can do is blame the government or society for our social and political ills.
If something bugs you, blame it on “them.” “They” want to destroy America!
“They” want to take our freedom. Look closely, and you will see that “they” is us.
Our thinking is also programed by international media companies that like Trump appeal to our darkest side by pushing our emotional buttons. Once our minds are captured, then we buy the products that will treat all our maladies.
-Pete Scobby Newport
Why do so many Christians support Trump?
To the editor, I’m so confused by the support that Donald Trump receives from so many people who call themselves Christians.
I’ve been researching and I’ve read: According to Scripture, Christian character includes the pursuit of truth, godliness, faithfulness, righteousness, joy, peace, kindness, patience, humility, self-control and integrity. Do any of these describe Donald Trump? Absolutely not.
Seattle Christian Counseling says, “Christian character and conduct are the opposite of pride and arrogance, which are considered to be harmful to the kingdom of God.”
Michael C. Bender reported in the New York Times that, despite the fact that Trump “has been repeatedly accused of sexual assault, has been convicted of business fraud and has never showed much interest in church services,” he is considered an “evangelical hero.”
And “Mr. Trump’s political creed stands as one of the starkest examples of his effort to transform the Republican Party into a kind of Church of Trump. His insistence on absolute devotion and fealty can be seen at every level of the party.”
Austin Weatherford, a long-time Republican congressional staffer and now a national director of Republican outreach for the Harris campaign, told the Associated Press that “Trump’s extremism is toxic to the millions of Republicans who no longer believe the party of Donald Trump represents their values.”
Kris Reece, a renowned author, coach, and speaker wrote that “narcissism, lack of empathy, passive aggressive behavior, emotional blackmail, negativity and self-centeredness are some traits that describe toxic people. Toxic people love only themselves and money. Many toxic people struggle with insecurity and find the only way they can feel good is by tearing others down. They have manipulative behavior. They cause division and strife.” I cannot think of a more accurate way to describe Donald Trump.
Vote for Kamala Harris, the only candidate who has the positive qualities non-existent in Donald Trump.
-Deborah Stafford Newport
